Higseth undertakes to intensify military cooperation with Japan and deter China

Defense Minister Higseth House concluded The first official visit to Asia On Sunday, by providing a cleansing of Japan that President Trump wants a stronger military alliance in the region to increase the increasingly firm China.

After a 85 -minute meeting in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart, Mr. Higseth said that the Trump administration will adhere to promises to increase security cooperation with its strong ally. This will include accelerating the administration’s administration’s era’s plan to establish a new joint military command in Japanese in Tokyo that he called it the “Headquarters for War Control”, although Mr. Higth did not say when he would work. He also said that there will be more joint military exercises in the Okinawa Islands near Taiwan, a self -governing island that China says is part of its territory and threatened to take force.

Mr. Higseth arrived in Japan from the Philippines, another American ally, where the Minister of Defense is also He sought to calm anxiety About the Trump administration’s commitment to the region. I watched Japan with anxiety, as the United States collapsed in traditional Allies in Europe To obtain a deal that may allow Russia to preserve the landed lands from Ukraine.

Japanese officials have been concerned separately that such concessions may encourage China to move in Taiwan. After meeting with General Nakatani, the Japanese Defense Minister, Mr. Higseth, struck a severe tone about the coalition, announcing that the United States will work with Japan to secure “peace through power” that would prevent the Chinese from taking action.

“America does not mean America alone,” Mr. Higseth told reporters. “America and Japan are firmly standing in the face of aggressive and legacy actions by the Communist Chinese.” Mr. Higseth did not address concerns about his participation of military information on Signal chat app This included the journalist.

Mr. Higseth’s visit to Japan included stopping on Iowo Jimma Island, where American and Japanese forces fought one of the bloodiest battles in World War II. The US Secretary of Defense attended a ceremony to celebrate the eighty anniversary of the battle, where he briefly met Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba from Japan.

The symbolism of visiting the island was great. He has made it clear how two of your opponents in wartime have become closely partner and came at a time when many Japanese feel that the country has been facing the most negative security environment since 1945.

Mr. Nakatani said that he explained to Mr. Higseth how Japan responds to the challenges facing a plan, which precedes the Trump administration, to double its defense and other security spending by 2027. He told reporters that the two did not discuss new goals for Japan to increase spending or increase contributions to pay the price of the military presence of 50,000 in the country.

“I have shared how Japan, on our part, is making efforts to greatly enhance our defensive capabilities,” said Mr. Nakatani.

After the meeting, Japanese Ministry of Defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they were not allowed to discuss these matters in public places, that they are happy with talks. They said that Mr. Higseth has gone far away in dispelling their fears that President Trump may not respect the obligations made by the previous administration.

They said that their greatest concern was the fate of the joint leadership, a project of more than one billion dollars, which some American media reported as part of reducing costs in the Trump administration. The new headquarters of armies in the two countries will allow closer work during a crisis in the area surrounding Japan.

Mr. Higseth described Japan as a “typical ally” that would work closely with the United States while building its army.

“We are confident that Japan will make the correct design of the necessary capabilities,” he said.

Analysts said that the level of the agreement reflects the extent of Japan’s disposal of peace after the war in recent years, driven by growing growth Chinese military presence In the region as well as nuclear accumulation by North Korea.

Mr. Ishiba, the Japanese Prime Minister, has long called on the country to become a fully military partner for the United States.

“Trump wants Japan to do more, and Ishiba wants Japan to do more,” said Masso Kamikobo, Professor of International Political Studies at the University of Ritzomican. “There is a meeting of minds between these two.”